At last, Erykah Badu is Back
Erykah’s just released her (long awaited!) new album New AmErykah on her birthday -the 26th Feb – and we’re loving it. Watch the fab video of the debut sultry single Honey – or catch clips of the entire album on her MySpace site here. This first album subtitled “Part One, 4th World War” is part one of up to three albums that she plans on releasing this year and next. We’re still getting through it, but at first listen, it sounds like classic Erykah neosoul sounds, mixed up with trippy electro beats and modern twists. Great drifting sounds. Nice....
Ze Folky Sounds of Europe
We dare you to tell us that Folk music is dead. *shiver*. We’re telling you it’s risen from the dead, with a Kate Nash twist.. . But there’s something about Europe’s latest female folky exports all singing in English that does grow on you. Check out Soko, Lykke Li and Hello Saferide below – there must be something in the water. “If I find her I swear I’ll Keel ‘er…” You don’t want to mess with the French accent of the no-nonsense singer stephanie sokolinski, a French actress who’s band SOKO is causing a stir, thanks to Stoffel for the link. Watch “I’ll kill her” on YouTube here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25AsfkriHQc. Thanks to Julian for sharing the lovely Lykke Li with us. The Swede is only 21 and already the world over has fallen in love with her debut album released in January – listen to her track “Little Bit” at her MySpace site http://www.myspace.com/lykkeli Hello Saferide is another Swedish lass, Annika Norlin, who’s hit song HighSchool Stalker shot her to fame. Check out her song Quiz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r5lnQYwdbE on Youtube....
New Year and the 2008 bonsai resolutions
Ok, so it’s the last day of the first month of 2008. How are your resolutions going? We hope you’ve thrown them out the window or that you never had any in the first place? And to those of you who have gallantly stuck to them, bully to you big boots. Either way, take some comfort in the fact that most of us out here are fallible – errant, imperfect, human. Some of us accepted a long time ago that life is a real beyatch. Others are still in denial. On the bright side many of us are quite maleable and feisty: easy to adapt, ducking and diving, taking the blows, repositioning ourselves for the next round, fitting in here, readjusting there, getting on with it, pushing through, throwing out what we don’t want and trying to focus on what makes us feel good and happy. For isn’t that the point? To be happy. [Ed: See Below.] Or is there more? Suddenly some of us grow up, get dragged through an existential crisis backwards and realise that looks, materialism and the acquisition of more, bigger & better is just a passing high – that trying to outdo, show up or suppress is simply short-sighted and sad and that it’s just not possible to be happy all day or everyday. And then we ask ourselves what the point is anyway. And therein lies the big question. [Ed: And please DON’T MENTION “THE SECRET”. EVER.] We’ve given up scratching our heads at Represent and have thrown caution to the wind with the hope that love, laughter, the occasional big brawling night out entertained by the incredibly crazy and lekker chomees we have around us will get us through. Maybe. We asked our friend Dawn for her thoughts on New Years Resolutions. We like her thinking!: The Vision… 2008: a new year. Positive affirmations. Start afresh. Visualise your goals. Seize the day. Create your destiny. Think big. Push boundaries. Set new limits. Manifest success. Happiness. Strength. Authenticity. Wealth. Realise your dreams. Such lovely, positive phrases. The foundation of your New Year’s resolutions, the DNA of modern culture and business. The Secret. The Key to the Winner’s Circle. Strong inspiring words, all so nice to read (especially in a pretty font – personally, I recommend Tahoma, size 12. The shapes are soothing, and you won’t need to squint). The resolutions begin to form… Your heart and mind leap in response: of course! This is what you need…the Big Idea! Change yourself and your life. Join the ranks of the rich/famous/successful/enlightened/wise/thin/calm/hairy/notorious. Cue rampaging orchestral emotions, and the noble feeling of bold decision-making. It’s the...
Join this group in the name of love
Meet our lovelorn couple Tatiana and James, suffering from the realities of a long-distance relationship, they will do whatever it takes to bridge the distance and bring their worlds together so that they can be as one, at last…. But seriously, anyone that’s been in *long-distance* love understands just how tearfully hard separation can be and just how much time and money is invested in trying to bring your love together. We were recently introduced to the inventive couple on Facebook and were impressed with their cheeky approach at trying to be in the same space on Valentines day. They’ve started a group called Valentines Airlines in the hope that an airline will take pity on the lovers, see the huge PR value of making it happen, and offer them a free return flight. They need a shizer load of members to make it happen, so go on, even if you lived in Fourways and your partner in Alberton, share some love with long-distance lovers all over the world and join the Facebook group. In the name of love we implore you! Valentine Airlines Facebook Group We spoke to Tatiana to find out the whole sad story: Two lovers pine for each other on opposite sides of the globe. This group is an endeavor at receiving a free return flight from an airline company in order to relieve us of our love-pangs of missingness over the Valentines period if we attain 10 000 members or more. Join this group in the name of love… and tell all your friends! Dos amantes unidos por un profundo amor, pero separados por un continente. Este grupo es un intento para recibir un vuelo gratis de ida y vuelta de una compañía aérea por San Valentín. Necesitamos a 10.000 personas o más para realizar nuestro sueño y aliviarnos de nuestro dolor de amor propio de la distancia. Únete al grupo en nombre del amor y cuéntaselo a todos tus amigos!! Valentines Airlines is an idea we came up with last year. An attempt at creating enough noise about long distance love to encourage anyone who’s interested in helping us, to help. We need many more people to join and more importantly we need the public to be proactive in helping to get the idea to influential people. We need to make more of a noise about it. We’re working hard at finding contact details for Directors of the relevant airlines but I’m not convinced that they are the only people who could be interested. Ideally I’d like to speak with Richard Branson and or anyone who could gain from the publicity and who...
Afrika burns:”There is no time. There is no money.”
Feel like something out of this world that involves community participation, arts and pop-up culture? Tired of money money money work work work and bling bling [bling]? Go get amongst the GIFT ECONOMY at Afrika Burns this year and get away from it all. Thanks to Horn for the inspiring words and pics… Afrika Burns was held for the 1st time in Africa from the 22-25 November 2007 in Tankwa town, Karoo. There is actually no town there at all. It is halfway down the most remote road in SA. Tankwa Town is 113 km down the longest road in SA that has no town on it. In the desert This is an art Festival….no ordinary art festival- It is totally participant created. There is nothing there to begin with and each camp creates something , whether it’s an art installation, a camp or just getting involved and volunteering. Afrikaburns….the regional event for the burning man festival- is an experiment in temporary community building. Every thing that is brought in must be taken away. It’s a haven for radical self expression, self reliance and non commercialism. Nothing can be bought or sold, and you have to bring everything that will allow you to survive, encouraging the culture of environmental mindfulness, which is leaving no matter out of place. Afrika burns is probably some of the most amazing 4 days you can have: building, creating, making friends, helping out, making a difference and going on missions. There is no time. There is no money , there are no things to buy or pay for. So what this all means is that you get together with a bunch of friends, colleagues, strangers and you plan and build a camp. There were 28 themed camps this year with each camp having a theme to add to the whole event: – “Camp Vuvuzela”, who were definitely the most organised, they put together a stage and a dance floor, with chill out areas, couches, pillows and all. They put on a myriad of tunes and acts on stage, from percussion to trance, they also had a mobile DJ mutant vehicle in the “vuvu van” (a mutant vehicle that was once a landrover that had decks, amps, speakers, adorned with orange and pink fur who’s sole purpose was to attended other camps events and add some tunes if needed. – Then there was the amazing Burning Mail – they erected a fully functioning post office in the middle of the desert , complete with typewriters, especially designed postcards and delivery anywhere in the world. They also delivered to the next camp (via bicycle) or if...
Represent Recommends: Blood Orange
Blood Orange is the story of a boy’s journey toward manhood. Blacklaw weaves all the usual trials and rites of passage that go with growing up; with the realities of our childhood in the apartheid era. Our protagonist is able to tell his story against this backdrop of conflict, thus commenting on and often making light of the darkness of our past. The story is bitter-sweet, much like the fruit from which it takes its name. The partnership of Grieg Coetzee and Craig Morris is remarkable. Each of these very skilled theatre practitioners are storytellers, one verbal and one physical. This results in a performance that is multi-faceted and thick with detail. Craig Morris changes character with ease, and throughout the narrative we are introduced to many characters, yet each is distinct in accent, posture and characterisation. With Craig, only one performer is needed as opposed to a cast of hundreds. His physicalisation creates such imagery, just when you think his vocabulary of facial expressions have dried up – along comes another wonderfully vivid character. One that we can recognise… we know someone like that! As if that weren’t enough, there are these startling moments when we are reminded of Craig’s astounding dance abilities as he portrays feelings though his movement. He is only aided by the use of shadows and 4 tyres – ingeniously utilised. The piece is memory inducing and thought provoking and a testimony to the old adage ‘A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down’. An hour and a half on stage, alone and he holds us in the palm of his hands and on his every word for, every minute. GO AND SEE BLOOD ORANGE!!! BLOOD ORANGE An adaptation of Troy Blacklaws’ novel of the same name The Market Theatre and Untouchable Productions presents 22 January – 17 February 2008 (Tues – Sat 20h15; Sun 15h15) BUY TWO TICKETS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE Available from Wed, 23 January – Wed, 30 January 2008 (ex. Tues, 29 Jan) Tickets must be purchased from the Market Theatre Box Office. Call 011 832 1641. Performed by Craig Morris Directed by Greig Coetzee Debra...
Proudly brought to you by:
